L.v. Woman Named State's 'Legal Secretary Of Year'

April 25, 1985|The Morning Call

Mrs. Margaret A. Ferri of Bethlehem was chosen "Legal Secretary of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Association of Legal Secretaries at its 21st annual convention held over the weekend in Schuylkill Haven. She represented the Lehigh-Northampton Counties Legal Secretaries Association.

Applicants were judged on the basis of 60 percent counting for legal secretarial skills and experience; 30 percent for service to the national, state and local associations, and 10 percent for civic and charitable activities. Mrs. Ferri will compete on the national level at the National Association of Legal Secretaries annual convention July 27-Aug. 1 in Nashville, Tenn.

Mrs. Ferri began her secretarial career in 1950 with the late Atty. Justin D. Jirolanio, working in his office for 10 years.

While raising her family, Mrs. Ferri worked part-time in the legal field and returned to full-time employment in 1975 with Atty. Jackson M. Sigmon, where she currently is employed.

Commenting about Mrs. Ferri in her application for the award, AttySigmon said, "In my 37 years as a busy trial lawyer, I classify her as my No. 1 Legal Secretary. Her skills are tops."

A graduate of Liberty High School and the former Bethlehem Business College, Mrs. Ferri received her para-legal certification from Southern Career Institute in 1979.

She is treasurer of Lehigh-Northampton Counties Legal Secretaries Association and has been elected to serve as its governor beginning Wednesday. She has served as legal educational chairman for the local chapter for two years and also for the state association for three years. She also was chairman for two seminars of the local chapter and recently was appointed to serve as chairman for the professional legal secretary committee of the state association.

Mrs. Ferri and her husband John are the parents of three children, John of Gaithersville, Md.; David of New York City and Patricia of Philadelphia. There are two grandchildren.